What Does It Take to Truly Preserve a Free Society?
Why your living room is liberty's first classroom.
Hello friend!
In 1783, the American Revolution had been won, but the republic was far from secure.
At Newburgh, New York, a group of Continental Army officers, angry about unpaid wages and unfulfilled promises from Congress, contemplated a military coup.
The fledgling nation stood at the precipice of trading one form of tyranny for another.
George Washington learned of the plot and unexpectedly appeared at the officers' meeting. Rather than asserting his authority or making grand promises, he did something unexpected – he showed vulnerability.
After reading a brief speech that failed to quell the unrest, Washington reached into his pocket for a letter from a congressman. As he unfolded it, he paused and reached for something else – a pair of reading glasses that none of his officers had ever seen him wear.
"Gentlemen, you must pardon me," he said quietly. "I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind."
This simple moment of humility struck the officers deeply.
Washington wasn't appealing to their ambition or even their patriotism, but to something more fundamental – the virtues that had sustained their cause.
Many officers were moved to tears, and the potential coup collapsed in an instant.
This story reminds us of a timeless question: How do we ensure that the freedom we inherited endures?
We often assume that liberty, once established, is self-sustaining. But history tells a different story.
No free society lasts without the intentional effort of its citizens.
Freedom must be learned, cultivated, and passed on.
And that process doesn't begin in the halls of government or even the classroom.
It begins at home.
The family is the first and most important institution in any society. It is where children learn not only how to survive but also how to live well.
And if we want them to grow into responsible, free citizens, we must be deliberate about what we teach them.
Civic education is not just about knowing historical facts or the mechanics of government. It is about equipping the next generation to uphold the principles that sustain liberty.
Four Foundations of Human Flourishing
Human development moves through different stages—survival, stabilization, sustainability, and thriving.
Each stage requires certain knowledge and skills. But in every stage, civic education plays a critical role in shaping the kind of citizens who can preserve freedom.
1. Survival: The Foundations of Freedom
Humans must first meet their basic needs—food, shelter, and safety—which are essential, but physical survival alone is not enough.
Societies that focus only on survival often fall into tyranny because security is prioritized over liberty.
Civic education ensures that survival does not come at the cost of freedom. It teaches that rights are inherent, not granted by the government.
It reinforces that security must never justify permanent control over citizens. It instills the knowledge that even in times of crisis, the rule of law must prevail.
Actionable Example: When your child wants a rule changed at home, use it as an opportunity to model how just governance works. Instead of simply saying yes or no, discuss the principle behind the rule, listen to their argument, and walk through a fair process for considering changes.
This teaches that rules should be reasoned and negotiable, not arbitrary—a fundamental concept in a free society.
Potential Obstacle: In times of family stress or crisis, it's tempting to default to "because I said so" authority. Children may receive mixed messages if we teach democratic principles but practice authoritarian methods.
Solution: Acknowledge when you're making quick, unilateral decisions due to circumstances, and revisit the issue when things calm down: "I had to make a quick decision earlier, but now let's talk about why that rule matters and if we need to adjust it."
This teaches both respect for necessary authority and the importance of reasoned governance.
2. Stabilization: The Virtues That Make Freedom Possible
A person who has mastered survival must learn how to stabilize—to manage emotions, build relationships, and establish order in life. A free society depends on individuals who can self-govern.
Without personal stability, self-government is impossible.
This is where civic virtues come in. Courage teaches us to stand for truth even when it is unpopular. Integrity ensures that we are trustworthy in private and public life. Respect allows us to engage with others in a way that strengthens communities instead of dividing them.
Actionable Example: Create a "Virtues in Action" challenge for your family. Each week, focus on a different civic virtue like honesty, responsibility, or courage. Discuss what the virtue means, look for examples in books or current events, and recognize when family members demonstrate it.
At the end of the week, talk about how that virtue supports a free society. For instance, how does honesty build the trust needed for people to work together without constant oversight?
Potential Obstacle: Children often see public figures achieving success while displaying the opposite of civic virtues, creating confusion about whether virtues truly matter in the "real world."
Solution: Don't shy away from discussing these contradictions. Use them to explore the difference between short-term success and long-term impact and how societies suffer when virtues are abandoned.
Point out historical figures who maintained integrity even at personal cost and the lasting legacy they created compared to those who chose expediency.
3. Sustainability: The Responsibilities of Self-Government
A person who has stabilized their life must learn how to sustain it—how to manage resources wisely, think long-term, and make informed decisions.
The same applies to a society. Liberty is fragile. It must be maintained with care.
Civic education is essential to sustaining freedom because it teaches how to manage the resources of a free society, engage in productive dialogue, and recognize threats to liberty.
Actionable Example: Start a "Freedom Reading" tradition where you explore primary sources together as a family. Even with young children, you can read simplified versions of documents like the Declaration of Independence or speeches by figures like Frederick Douglass or Abraham Lincoln.
Discuss what these people were willing to risk for liberty and what responsibilities we have to preserve it.
This connects your children to the ongoing story of freedom and their role in it.
Potential Obstacle: Abstract concepts about liberty can seem disconnected from daily life, making it difficult for children to see why they should care about civic responsibility.
Solution: Connect historical principles to current situations your children care about. If they're frustrated about an unfair policy at school, use that as a starting point to discuss how citizens in a free society address unjust rules.
If they're excited about a community improvement, connect it to how self-government allows people to shape their environment.
These connections make civic responsibility relevant rather than theoretical.
4. Thriving: The Power of an Educated and Engaged Citizenry
True flourishing occurs when people are not just surviving or sustaining themselves but thriving—contributing to something greater than themselves.
A thriving society is one where people are actively engaged in their own governance, working to improve their communities, and passing on the principles of liberty to the next generation.
Civic education fuels this kind of thriving by teaching critical thinking, encouraging lifelong learning, and instilling a love of country rooted in knowledge.
Actionable Example: Help your child identify a small issue in your neighborhood or community that concerns them. Guide them through researching the issue, identifying who has the authority to address it, and crafting a respectful, solution-oriented message to that person or body.
Whether it's a broken playground swing, a dangerous intersection, or insufficient recycling options, this gives them hands-on experience with civic engagement and shows them that their voice matters in a free society.
Potential Obstacle: Civic engagement often yields slow results or initial rejection, which can discourage children who are used to more immediate feedback.
Solution: Frame civic participation as a journey rather than a single event. Share stories of historical changes that took years or decades of persistent effort. Celebrate small victories and learning experiences along the way.
Help them understand that in a free society, change often comes gradually through persuasion and coalition-building.
Explain to them that this is actually a feature of the system, not a bug. Tit prevents hasty decisions while still allowing for progress.
Quick Start Guide
Ready to strengthen your family's civic education?
Here are three simple activities you can try this week:
For Young Children (Ages 5-9): Create a family flag together. Discuss what symbols and colors would represent your family's values, and talk about why communities and nations use flags to express their identity and principles.
For Older Children (Ages 10-13): Identify a news story about a local issue. Read it together and practice asking questions: Who is affected? Who makes decisions about this? What principles should guide the solution? How could citizens influence the outcome?
For Teens: Select a speech from American history and read it alongside a current opinion piece on a similar topic. Discuss the similarities and differences in how they frame the issue, the values they appeal to, and the quality of their arguments.
The Future of Freedom Starts with Families
The home is where the habits of liberty are first formed. It is where children learn to tell right from wrong, to respect authority while thinking for themselves, and to take responsibility for their choices.
These are not just life skills. They are the foundations of citizenship.
Civic education must not be left to schools alone. It must be woven into the fabric of family life through conversations at the dinner table, engagement with history's great ideas, and the practice of civic virtues in daily interactions.
The survival, stability, sustainability, and flourishing of our society depend on the next generation. And the next generation depends on you.
Reflection Question: Which civic virtue do you find most challenging to model or teach in your family, and why? Taking time to consider this question might reveal important insights about your own civic journey and how you can grow alongside your children.
Share with your children the story of Washington at Newburgh.
For inspiration, take a look at this past edition, Did a Pair of Eyeglasses Save the American Republic?
Sometimes, the most powerful civic lessons come not from grand speeches or elaborate lessons but from small moments of character that reveal our deepest values.
What moments of character will your children remember from your family's civic journey?
Thanks for reading!
Best,
David
Founder, The Civics Academy